Foothills Trail to Whitewater Falls 2/16/22

 

Some two hundred feet of drop in this view, but this look is not guaranteed as mist and fog can totally obscure it.



See Alltrails.com for details. Our Wed hike plan was to run it one way, from the 107 intersection with the trail to the falls, climbing some 500 feet over 2.8 miles and then drop some 800 ft over the next 2.7 miles to the falls. When we got to the trailhead parking lot, it was raining enough that the hike was delayed with a quick drive to see our end point, the falls. By the time we got there, the rain had ceased. Two hikers hitched a ride backdown to the beginning and another group hiked in around the falls area going up the trail a ways and then across the river below the falls and back again. The two groups managed to meet quite by accident as we were getting back to our cars. 


This is the photo journey of the intrepid pair that started at the bottom of the route.


All our usual winter plant friends were here and there along the trail: partridge berry, ginger, a variety of fungi, a mystery blue button type of mushroom or fungus, cranefly orchid, pipsissewa, mosses including club and pincushion moss, turkey tail mushrooms, rattlesnake plantain orchids, galax and trailing arbutus.

partridge berry

ginger


Gorgeous fluorescent blue mushroom?, but unknown to the plant ID apps that I have. Anyone know?







At times the clouds would lower and put us in a mist, and then once thickened into a light rain that forced the ponchos out of our packs for a short while. Lake Jocassee came into view from time to time in the latter part of the trail.



The only blooming thing on the entire trail, a lovely trailing arbutus in blossom.



Saw this plant in the same area, and it reminded me of the leaf structure of dwarf iris but I don't have a positive ID on it and the leaves seemed far too large. Any ideas? It was in quite a burn zone, apparently a purposely done burn  a year ago by the rangers to reduce the chance of a greater fire.



A quiet pool with a gentle sound.



After we got thru the trail and crossed the highway to the lower part of the trail to the falls viewing platform,  the path became more of a rocky scramble, ameliorated by some footbridges and steps.

Finally we discovered that we were not alone as we ran into Mark's team as we both headed to the same parking lot in going in opposite directions.

Happy hiking!


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